Sen. Neil Anderson

Filed: 4/10/2024

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1215

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1215 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5changing Sections 3-611.5, 12-215, and 12-601 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/3-611.5)
7    Sec. 3-611.5. Fire Chief license plates.
8    (a) The Secretary, upon receipt of a request from a
9municipality or fire protection district that operates a fire
10department or a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, accompanied by an
11application and the appropriate fee, may issue, to a fire
12chief, deputy fire chief, and assistant fire chief of each
13municipal fire department or fire protection district and
14chief of a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, special registration
15plates designated as Fire Chief license plates. The special
16plates issued under this Section shall be affixed only to

 

 

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1passenger vehicles of the first division or motor vehicles of
2the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds, owned
3by the fire department, or the fire chief, deputy fire chief,
4or assistant fire chief of the fire department, or chief of a
5Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. Plates issued under this Section
6shall expire according to the multi-year procedure established
7by Section 3-414.1 of this Code.
8    (b) The design and color of the special plates shall be
9wholly within the discretion of the Secretary. The plates are
10not required to designate "Land of Lincoln" as prescribed in
11subsection (b) of Section 3-412 of this Code. The Secretary
12may prescribe rules governing the requirements and approval of
13the special plates. The fee for this plate for a vehicle owned
14by the fire chief, deputy fire chief, or assistant fire chief
15shall be the same as the fee prescribed for first division
16vehicles in Section 3-806 of this Code. Permanent license
17plates for fire chief, deputy fire chief, or assistant fire
18chief vehicles owned by a municipal fire department or fire
19protection district shall be issued at the fee prescribed in
20Section 3-808.1(b).
21    (c) Any fire chief, deputy fire chief, or assistant fire
22chief, or chief of a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System operating
23warning devices as described in paragraph 2.1 of subsection
24(a) of Section 12-215 or subsection (b) of Section 12-601 upon
25a vehicle not owned by a municipality or fire protection
26district shall display license plates as described in this

 

 

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1Section.
2    (d) With the exception of permanently issued license
3plates, upon the resignation, termination, or reassignment to
4a rank other than fire chief, deputy fire chief, or assistant
5fire chief, or upon resignation, termination, or reassignment
6from a Mutual Aid Alarm Box System, a person issued plates
7under this Section shall immediately surrender the license
8plate to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall
9have the ability to recover license plates issued under this
10Section.
11(Source: P.A. 102-448, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
12    (625 ILCS 5/12-215)
13    Sec. 12-215. Oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on
14motor vehicles. Except as otherwise provided in this Code:
15    (a) The use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or
16flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited
17except on:
18        1. Law enforcement vehicles of State, federal, or
19    local authorities;
20        2. A vehicle operated by a police officer or county
21    coroner and designated or authorized by local authorities,
22    in writing, as a law enforcement vehicle; however, such
23    designation or authorization must be carried in the
24    vehicle;
25        2.1. A vehicle operated by a fire chief, deputy fire

 

 

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1    chief, or assistant fire chief or a chief of a Mutual Aid
2    Box Alarm System who has completed an emergency vehicle
3    operation training course approved by the Office of the
4    State Fire Marshal and designated or authorized by local
5    authorities, fire departments, or fire protection
6    districts, or Mutual Aid Box Alarm Systems, in writing, as
7    a fire department, fire protection district, or township
8    fire department, or Mutual Aide Box Alarm System vehicle;
9    however, the designation or authorization must be carried
10    in the vehicle, and the lights may be visible or activated
11    only when responding to a bona fide emergency;
12        3. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
13    federal firefighting vehicles;
14        4. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
15    ambulances or rescue vehicles; furthermore, such lights
16    shall not be lighted except when responding to an
17    emergency call for and while actually conveying the sick
18    or injured;
19        4.5. Vehicles which are occasionally used as rescue
20    vehicles that have been authorized for use as rescue
21    vehicles by a volunteer EMS provider, provided that the
22    operator of the vehicle has successfully completed an
23    emergency vehicle operation training course recognized by
24    the Department of Public Health; furthermore, the lights
25    shall not be lighted except when responding to an
26    emergency call for the sick or injured;

 

 

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1        5. Tow trucks licensed in a state that requires such
2    lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on
3    any such tow truck while the tow truck is operating in the
4    State of Illinois;
5        6. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
6    Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
7    Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
8    Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
9    Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
10    Juvenile Justice;
11        7. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
12    management services agency as defined in the Illinois
13    Emergency Management Agency Act;
14        8. School buses operating alternately flashing head
15    lamps as permitted under Section 12-805 of this Code;
16        9. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
17    organ transplant vehicles when used in combination with
18    blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;
19    furthermore, these lights shall be lighted only when the
20    transportation is declared an emergency by a member of the
21    transplant team or a representative of the organ
22    procurement organization;
23        10. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
24    Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
25    emergency response;
26        11. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of

 

 

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1    Transportation identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol; the
2    lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an
3    emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged
4    in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the
5    emergency; and
6        12. Vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
7    Authority with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000
8    pounds or more and those identified as Highway Emergency
9    Lane Patrol; the lights shall not be lighted except when
10    responding to an emergency call or when parked or
11    stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at
12    the scene of the emergency.
13    (b) The use of amber oscillating, rotating, or flashing
14lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
15        1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
16    towing or hoisting vehicles; furthermore, such lights
17    shall not be lighted except as required in this paragraph
18    1; such lights shall be lighted when such vehicles are
19    actually being used at the scene of a crash or
20    disablement; if the towing vehicle is equipped with a flat
21    bed that supports all wheels of the vehicle being
22    transported, the lights shall not be lighted while the
23    vehicle is engaged in towing on a highway; if the towing
24    vehicle is not equipped with a flat bed that supports all
25    wheels of a vehicle being transported, the lights shall be
26    lighted while the towing vehicle is engaged in towing on a

 

 

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1    highway during all times when the use of headlights is
2    required under Section 12-201 of this Code; in addition,
3    these vehicles may use white oscillating, rotating, or
4    flashing lights in combination with amber oscillating,
5    rotating, or flashing lights as provided in this
6    paragraph;
7        2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
8    Illinois, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, local
9    authorities, and contractors; furthermore, such lights
10    shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are
11    engaged in maintenance or construction operations within
12    the limits of construction projects;
13        3. Vehicles or equipment used by engineering or survey
14    crews; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted
15    except while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on
16    a highway;
17        4. Vehicles of public utilities, municipalities, or
18    other construction, maintenance, or automotive service
19    vehicles except that such lights shall be lighted only as
20    a means for indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic
21    hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking,
22    or passing while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance,
23    service, or construction on a highway;
24        5. Oversized vehicle or load; however, such lights
25    shall only be lighted when moving under permit issued by
26    the Department under Section 15-301 of this Code;

 

 

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1        6. The front and rear of motorized equipment owned and
2    operated by the State of Illinois or any political
3    subdivision thereof, which is designed and used for
4    removal of snow and ice from highways;
5        6.1. The front and rear of motorized equipment or
6    vehicles that (i) are not owned by the State of Illinois or
7    any political subdivision of the State, (ii) are designed
8    and used for removal of snow and ice from highways and
9    parking lots, and (iii) are equipped with a snow plow that
10    is 12 feet in width; these lights may not be lighted except
11    when the motorized equipment or vehicle is actually being
12    used for those purposes on behalf of a unit of government;
13        7. Fleet safety vehicles registered in another state,
14    furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except as
15    provided for in Section 12-212 of this Code;
16        8. Such other vehicles as may be authorized by local
17    authorities;
18        9. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
19    authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
20    rotating, or flashing lights;
21        9.5. Propane delivery trucks;
22        10. Vehicles used for collecting or delivering mail
23    for the United States Postal Service provided that such
24    lights shall not be lighted except when such vehicles are
25    actually being used for such purposes;
26        10.5. Vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State

 

 

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1    Fire Marshal, provided that such lights shall not be
2    lighted except for when such vehicles are engaged in work
3    for the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal;
4        11. Any vehicle displaying a slow-moving vehicle
5    emblem as provided in Section 12-205.1;
6        12. All trucks equipped with self-compactors or
7    roll-off hoists and roll-on containers for garbage,
8    recycling, or refuse hauling. Such lights shall not be
9    lighted except when such vehicles are actually being used
10    for such purposes;
11        13. Vehicles used by a security company, alarm
12    responder, control agency, or the Illinois Department of
13    Corrections;
14        14. Security vehicles of the Department of Human
15    Services; however, the lights shall not be lighted except
16    when being used for security related purposes under the
17    direction of the superintendent of the facility where the
18    vehicle is located; and
19        15. Vehicles of union representatives, except that the
20    lights shall be lighted only while the vehicle is within
21    the limits of a construction project.
22    (c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing
23lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
24        1. Rescue squad vehicles not owned by a fire
25    department or fire protection district and vehicles owned
26    or operated by a:

 

 

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1            voluntary firefighter;
2            paid firefighter;
3            part-paid firefighter;
4            call firefighter;
5            member of the board of trustees of a fire
6        protection district;
7            paid or unpaid member of a rescue squad;
8            paid or unpaid member of a voluntary ambulance
9        unit; or
10            paid or unpaid members of a local or county
11        emergency management services agency as defined in the
12        Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, designated
13        or authorized by local authorities, in writing, and
14        carrying that designation or authorization in the
15        vehicle.
16        However, such lights are not to be lighted except when
17    responding to a bona fide emergency or when parked or
18    stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance
19    call, or motor vehicle crash.
20        Any person using these lights in accordance with this
21    subdivision (c)1 must carry on his or her person an
22    identification card or letter identifying the bona fide
23    member of a fire department, fire protection district,
24    rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management
25    services agency that owns or operates that vehicle. The
26    card or letter must include:

 

 

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1            (A) the name of the fire department, fire
2        protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or
3        emergency management services agency;
4            (B) the member's position within the fire
5        department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
6        ambulance unit, or emergency management services
7        agency;
8            (C) the member's term of service; and
9            (D) the name of a person within the fire
10        department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
11        ambulance unit, or emergency management services
12        agency to contact to verify the information provided.
13        2. Police department vehicles in cities having a
14    population of 500,000 or more inhabitants.
15        3. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
16    authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
17    rotating, or flashing lights.
18        4. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
19    federal firefighting vehicles when used in combination
20    with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
21        5. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
22    ambulances or rescue vehicles when used in combination
23    with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;
24    furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except when
25    responding to an emergency call.
26        6. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as

 

 

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1    organ transport vehicles when used in combination with red
2    oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore,
3    these lights shall only be lighted when the transportation
4    is declared an emergency by a member of the transplant
5    team or a representative of the organ procurement
6    organization.
7        7. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
8    Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
9    Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
10    Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
11    Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
12    Juvenile Justice, when used in combination with red
13    oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
14        8. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
15    management services agency as defined in the Illinois
16    Emergency Management Agency Act, when used in combination
17    with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
18        9. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
19    Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
20    emergency response, when used in combination with red
21    oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
22    (c-1) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
23flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
24notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a
25voluntary firefighter, a voluntary member of a rescue squad,
26or a member of a voluntary ambulance unit may be equipped with

 

 

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1flashing white headlights and blue grill lights, which may be
2used only in responding to an emergency call or when parked or
3stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance
4call, or motor vehicle crash.
5    (c-2) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
6flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
7notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a paid
8or unpaid member of a local or county emergency management
9services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency
10Management Agency Act, may be equipped with white oscillating,
11rotating, or flashing lights to be used in combination with
12blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, if
13authorization by local authorities is in writing and carried
14in the vehicle.
15    (d) The use of a combination of amber and white
16oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or
17unlighted, is prohibited except on second division vehicles
18designed and used for towing or hoisting vehicles or motor
19vehicles or equipment of the State of Illinois, local
20authorities, contractors, and union representatives;
21furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on second
22division vehicles designed and used for towing or hoisting
23vehicles or vehicles of the State of Illinois, local
24authorities, and contractors except while such vehicles are
25engaged in a tow operation, highway maintenance, or
26construction operations within the limits of highway

 

 

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1construction projects, and shall not be lighted on the
2vehicles of union representatives except when those vehicles
3are within the limits of a construction project.
4    (e) All oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights referred
5to in this Section shall be of sufficient intensity, when
6illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
7    (f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a manufacturer
8of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or his
9representative or authorized vendor from temporarily mounting
10such lights on a vehicle for demonstration purposes only. If
11the lights are not covered while the vehicle is operated upon a
12highway, the vehicle shall display signage indicating that the
13vehicle is out of service or not an emergency vehicle. The
14signage shall be displayed on all sides of the vehicle in
15letters at least 2 inches tall and one-half inch wide. A
16vehicle authorized to have oscillating, rotating, or flashing
17lights mounted for demonstration purposes may not activate the
18lights while the vehicle is operated upon a highway.
19    (g) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a),
20(b), (c), or (d) of this Section who without lawful authority
21stops or detains or attempts to stop or detain another person
22shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony.
23    (h) Except as provided in subsection (g) above, any person
24violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (c) of this
25Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
26(Source: P.A. 102-842, eff. 1-1-23; 102-982, eff. 7-1-23;

 

 

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1103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
 
2    (625 ILCS 5/12-601)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-601)
3    Sec. 12-601. Horns and warning devices.
4    (a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall
5be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of
6emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance
7of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device
8shall emit an unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle.
9The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary
10to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn
11but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.
12    (b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person
13use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as
14otherwise permitted in this Section. Any authorized emergency
15vehicle or organ transport vehicle as defined in Chapter 1 of
16this Code or a vehicle operated by a fire chief, deputy fire
17chief, assistant fire chief, chief of a Mutual Aid Box Alarm
18System, or the Director or Coordinator of a municipal or
19county emergency services and disaster agency may be equipped
20with a siren, whistle, or bell capable of emitting sound
21audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less
22than 500 feet, but such siren, whistle, or bell shall not be
23used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an
24emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or
25suspected violator of the law in either of which events the

 

 

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1driver of such vehicle shall sound such siren, whistle, or
2bell when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of
3the approach thereof.
4    (c) Trackless trolley coaches, as defined by Section 1-206
5of this Code, and replica trolleys, as defined by Section
61-171.04 of this Code, may be equipped with a bell or bells in
7lieu of a horn, and may, in addition to the requirements of
8subsection (a) of this Section, use a bell or bells for the
9purpose of indicating arrival or departure at designated stops
10during the hours of scheduled operation.
11(Source: P.A. 102-448, eff. 1-1-22.)".